Hendry County Probate Court Records Search

Hendry County probate court records are filed with the Clerk of Court in LaBelle, serving estate cases, wills, and guardianship matters under Florida's 20th Judicial Circuit. This page explains how to access those records, what the three probate tracks mean, and what information you will find in a Hendry County probate file.

Hendry County Clerk of Court

The Hendry County Clerk of Court is located in LaBelle, the county seat. The clerk accepts all probate petitions, keeps the complete case record, issues letters of administration, and provides certified copies of documents when requested. All probate matters for Hendry County must be filed here.

Hendry County is part of the 20th Judicial Circuit, one of Florida's busiest, covering Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties. The circuit court website at ca.cjis20.org has local probate rules, standing orders, judge assignments, and any administrative changes that affect how cases are handled in LaBelle. Review the local rules before filing to avoid rejections or delays.

The statewide clerk directory at flclerks.com confirms current contact details for Hendry County and can help if you need to coordinate with clerks in Lee, Collier, or other nearby counties.

The 20th Circuit portal above is where you find local standing orders and judge information for Hendry County probate cases filed in LaBelle.

The Florida Clerks directory gives you direct contact info for the Hendry County clerk and all 67 Florida county clerks.

How to Search Hendry County Probate Records

Probate records in Hendry County are public under Florida law. You can access them several ways.

In person: Visit the clerk's office at 25 E. Hickpochee Avenue, LaBelle. Bring the decedent's full name and the approximate date of death or year the estate may have been opened. Staff can search by name or case number and print copies. Ask about the fee schedule before you visit so you bring the right payment.

By phone: Call (863) 675-5217 to check on a specific case or confirm whether probate was ever opened. Staff can give you the case number and basic status. They cannot give legal advice.

Online: The 20th Circuit covers a large area, and online case search availability varies by county. Check the 20th Circuit website and the Florida Courts website for any statewide search tools that include Hendry County. Lee County (Fort Myers) has strong online access through the same circuit, and Hendry access may be expanding.

Mail: Submit a written request to the clerk with the decedent's name, case number if known, your address, and payment for estimated copy fees. Call ahead to get the current fee per page before sending your request.

Florida probate law is governed by Chapter 733 for formal administration and Chapter 735 for summary administration and disposition without administration. These statutes define what is filed and when.

Types of Probate in Hendry County

Florida law gives estates three paths through probate. The estate's value and the time since death determine which one applies.

Formal Administration

Formal administration is required when the gross non-exempt estate exceeds $75,000. The court appoints a personal representative who must inventory assets, publish a notice to creditors, give written notice to known creditors, resolve all claims, and file an accounting before the court closes the estate. This process has a mandatory creditor claim period of 90 days from the date of first publication of notice. Under Chapter 733, the entire formal administration often takes one to two years or longer when disputes arise. Florida requires most formal administration cases to have an attorney of record.

Summary Administration

Summary administration is available when the estate's non-exempt assets are $75,000 or less, or the decedent died two or more years ago. This process skips the personal representative step. Instead, the petitioners ask the court to enter a single order distributing assets directly to the people named in the petition. Chapter 735 controls this track. Notice to known creditors is still required before the court enters the order.

Disposition Without Administration

The simplest track available in Florida. It applies when the decedent's only assets are exempt property or personal property with a total non-exempt value of $6,000 or less, and there is no real estate. The main use is reimbursing someone who paid the decedent's final medical bills or funeral costs. The clerk can process this without a formal hearing in many cases. It is fast, cheap, and limited to the specific situations the statute describes.

What Hendry County Probate Records Contain

A Hendry County probate file is a court record and is generally open to the public. Here is what you will find in a typical estate file.

The petition to open probate is filed first. It identifies the decedent, lists heirs or beneficiaries, describes the type and approximate value of the estate, and states whether a will exists. If a will is filed, the original is attached to the petition and admitted to probate by court order once the court finds it valid. If no will exists, the estate passes under Florida's intestacy statutes.

As the case proceeds, the file grows to include the inventory of assets with values, a list of creditors and their claims, court orders on those claims, and accountings of what was received and paid out during administration. The final order of discharge or distribution closes the estate and is the last document in the file.

Letters of administration are separate court documents issued early in the case. They authorize the personal representative to act on behalf of the estate. Banks and other financial institutions require certified copies of the letters before releasing account funds or other assets. The Hendry County clerk issues these for a per-page fee.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Hendry County residents have access to both statewide and circuit-level resources for probate matters.

The Florida Courts Self-Help Center provides free forms and written instructions for summary administration and disposition without administration. These forms are accepted in Hendry County's court. Self-represented parties should read the instructions carefully before submitting anything to the clerk.

The 20th Circuit, which covers Lee County (Fort Myers), tends to have stronger legal aid infrastructure than some smaller circuits. Legal aid organizations serving Lee and Collier counties may also cover Hendry County residents. Check the 20th Circuit site for any listed legal aid contacts or pro bono programs.

For formal administration, estates with real property, or any matter involving disputes among heirs, working with a licensed Florida probate attorney is strongly recommended. Even a short paid consultation can save time and money in the long run. LaBelle is a small town, but Fort Myers attorneys are nearby and practice regularly in the 20th Circuit courts.

Key Florida Probate Statutes

Two chapters of Florida law control every probate case filed in Hendry County. Chapter 733, the Florida Probate Code, covers formal administration from start to finish. It defines who may serve as personal representative, how creditors must be notified and paid, and the requirements for closing the estate. Chapter 735 covers the two simplified options: summary administration and disposition without administration. If you know which track applies to the estate, these two statutes tell you exactly what the court expects and when.

Cities in Hendry County

Hendry County has no cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. The main communities are LaBelle (the county seat), Clewiston, and Felda. All probate court filings for Hendry County are handled at the Clerk of Court office in LaBelle.

Nearby Counties

Hendry County is bordered by several large and mid-size counties. If an estate includes property in more than one county, ancillary probate filings may be needed in neighboring courts.